Pencil-holder.



" J. A. EUBANKS.

PENGIL HOLDER. APPLIOATIQH FILED FEB. 20, 1908.

900,716. Patented Oct. 13,1908.

WJTNESSE I I INVENTOR 4 2l 4z4tlameyJ TN: NJRRIS PETERS cm. wasumcwn. b. c.

PATENT ornron.

J OSEPH A. EUBANKS, OF GREENFIELD, OHIO.

' PENCIL-I-IQLDER;

Specification'of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed February 20, 1908. Serial No. 416,862.

To all whom it may concern: 7 a

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. EUBANKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenfield, in the county of Highland and State of-Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be. a full, clear, and exact description of themvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make'and use the same. 1

This invention is an attachment for pens or pencils designed to be placed on the hand while writing. Its purpose is to secure a correct position of the hand and prevent finger movement, thus developing the proper wrist action or muscular movement, which is so often difiicult to obtain, and thereby training the hand to a natural and graceful style of writing. r

While intended principally for use by pupils in schools, either as a mechanical aid to early teaching or as a means of continuing the training of older scholars, the device may also be found serviceable to many others, as well as to acquire a correct manner of writing as to relieve the hand from the tired and cramped position so commonly experienced. A suitable form of device embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a art of this specification, and wherein like otters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The invention will be first described by reference to said drawings, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this description.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of said device, shown as applied to the hand which is indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, to illustrate certain details. In thiscase the penoil is indicated by dash and dot lines. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In general terms, the device comprises a shank at, having at one end a pen or pencil holder 1), which is preferably in the form of a spring clip for holding pencils of various sizes; and carrying at its upper end a lateral arm 0, preferably resilient, designed to pass over or across and conform to the shape of the back of the hand; and iii front of the latter is an adjustable arm d, preferably stiff,

designed to fit within or set against the palm, so that the hand will be embraced between the two arms, the adjustability of the arm at fitting the device to hands of different thickness. Theadjustable arm d is shown as a member of a substantially right angular bar, the other arm or member e of which is slidabl y arranged in a case f on the shank a. and retained in the desired position therein by a spring catch g.

The operation is as follows: A pencil being inserted in the holder 1), the shank a will extend rearwardly and u wardly beside the pencil, with the arms a and d extending laterally. The scholar or other person intending to use the device places his or her hand between the arms, at the same time taking hold of the pencil inthe correct manner with the thumb, index and second fingers, as indicated in Fig. 1 in the drawings. In ap plying the implement to the hand, the re siliency of the spring arm 0 adapts it to the hand, While the arm or palm-bar d can be adjusted to hold it to the hand, to suit the individual. V In using the device, the arm (1, setting against the palm, serves to restrain improper finger. movement by preventing the fingers from drawing the pencil inward or toward the body, as is the usual tendency; while the arm 0, passing across and clasping :the back of the hand just behind the knuckle of the index finger, serves to hold the device 'to the hand and prevents or obviates the tendency to motion in .an opposite direction. A correct position with the index and second fingers outstretched along the pencil is thus obtained, resulting in a free wrist movement in writing. The device is intended to be used until proficiency in the practice of ;muscular movement has been attained, and it may then be laid aside unless the upil desires to use it as a pen or pencil ho der and rest for the hand.

As the invention described also contemplates the production of a device in a simple, cheap and practical form, a preferred construction, made principally of sheet-metal, is illustrated in the drawings. According to this construction, which is claimed as a part of the invention, the shank a, holder 1), arm 0 and case f are made integrally from a single sheet-metal blank, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The arm 0 is made as an approximately right angular continuation of the-shank a, but curved or shaped to conform or fit comfortably over the back of the hand, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and the spring clip or pencil holder 1) is formed by bending into tubular shape the widened front portion of the sheet-metal blank; while the case on the opposite side of the shank a from the pencil holder is likewise made by bending an adjacent widened portion of the blank into the form of a rectangular tube shaped to provide a slide way for the member a of the palm-bar d, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Along the medial line of division of the case f, a series of notches i are made in the opposite edges for engagement by the catch g, which is carried by a leafspring 7L attached to the member 6 and lying in a longitudinal slot therein. The catch g has a projecting tip by which it can be depressed to disengage the catch from the notches, whereby the member 6 can slide in its case to permit such adjustment of the palm-bar d as may be required to adapt the device to hands of different sizes. The palm-bar d is shown as a solid bar, with the spring h made as atongue from a small strip of sheet-metal fastened on the part c.

While the foregoing construction is preferred, the invention in its broader aspect may however be embodied in other forms, and constructed of various materials.

It is noted that the palm-bar d and the clasp c constitute an adjustable clamp for embracing the hand, so that the hand being thus held in the device, with the fingers engaging the pencil holder, is guided in the correct position.

In this specification and the following claims, the term pencil is intended to include a pencil, pen or any other similar article for writing.

It is further noted that, if it be found, as a matter of convenience or economy in procuring suitable dies, to be desirable to stamp the shank a with its several integral members in two parts, this may be done without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pencil holder having an upwardly extending shank carrying lateral arms for embracing the writei"s hand, one of said arms being adjustable longitudinall ol" said shank.

2. A device of the character described comprising a shank carrying at its lower end a pencil holder and at its upper portion a member to set within the palm of the hand and another member for clasping the back ol' the hand.

3. A device of the character described comprising an attachment for the hand having a shank provided with a. pencil holder and a palm-bar adjustable longitudinally of said shank and adapted to lit within the hand and thereby prevent linger movement.

4. A device of the character described comprising an attachment lor the hand having a shank provided with a pencil holder, :1 member to set within the palm ol the hand, and means for overlying the back of the hand and holding said. member to the palm ol the hand.

5. A device oi" the character described comprising a pencil holder having an. upwardly extending shank provided with means for attachment on the hand, including an adjustable angle-shaped member one arm ol' which constitutes a palm-bar to set within the palm and restrain linger movement, a case on the shank in which the other arm of said member is slidably arranged, and a catch for holding the latter in desired position in said case.

6. A device of the character described comprising a shank made from a strip of sheet-metal, having its upper portion bent laterally to pass over the back of the hand, having its lower portion bent into a tubular pencil holder, and having an intcrmcdiiuc portion bent into a tubular also, and an adjustable palm-bar having an arm fitted in said case.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. EUBANKS.

Witnesses:

W. B. ADAMS, D. O. MILLEP. 

